Putting your child's fate into someone else's hands isn't easy. Unfortunately, that's the position parents are in when they can't agree on child custody and visitation issues, which leaves the court in the position of making those determinations.
If a parent has "primary custody," it refers to the parent with whom the child lives with after the parents have parted. However, many jurisdictions don't use the term "primary custody." For instance, in Virginia, the term physical custody is used to refer to where the child lives (rather than primary custody).
The "Best Interests of the Child" Standard
Regardless of the type of custody that a party is seeking, all child custody determinations by the court are made using the "best interests of the child" standard. Within this framework, the court will look at parenting patterns that occurred prior to the separation of the parents and will also explore future parenting scenarios.
Primary Child Custody Factors in Virginia at a Glance
Anytime you're involved in a legal dispute, you want to make sure that you understand what the law says and what it means for your case. You can consult with an attorney, but you can also read an unabridged version of the relevant statutes written in plain English. The chart below provides a synopsis of the law that governs Virginia's child custody factors.
Statutes |
Virginia Code Title 20:
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Types of Custody
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Virginia recognizes two types of custody distinctions: physical custody and legal custody. "Physical custody" refers to where the child lives. A parent who has "legal custody" means that the parent has legal right concerning the decision-making rights and responsibilities regarding the child's health care, education, socialization, and religion. Custody is further distinguished by "sole custody" (only one parent has custody) and "joint custody" where both parents share custody. |
Joint Custody |
The definition of "joint custody" in Virginia includes the following possibilities:
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Best Interest of the Child Factors |
Virginia uses the following factors:
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Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Primary Child Custody Factors in Virginia: Related Resources
Discuss Primary Custody Factors with a Virginia Attorney
If you're in a custody dispute involving your child, you want to make sure that you do everything you can to bolster your case. A skilled child custody attorney will work with you on identifying the next steps to take.
